George Town Festival 2014 kicks off with dazzling Circus Circus display - The Malay Mail Online

Wrecking Crew Orchetra EL Squad from Japan performed a futuristic-looking dance performance as the pening act of Circus Circus. — Picture by Erin LimGEORGE TOWN, Aug 2 — It was pitch black in the hall. Suddenly, laser lights begin shooting out from the stage in tandem with the fast-paced music and dancers in glow suits illuminated by ribbons of fluorescent light started to move with the music.

Welcome to Circus Circus!

A futuristic-looking performance of dancers moving lithely across the stage in perfect synchrony with the music, it was the opening act of Circus Circus by Wrecking Crew Orchestra from Japan.

Unlike a conventional circus of tricks by animals and clown shows, Circus Circus is a combination of acrobatic, fluid dance moves and daring acts by four different troupes from Japan, Thailand, Finland and China.

Catch performances by international performers at Circus Circus. — Picture courtesy of GTF

Wrecking Crew's dazzling performance was followed by Finland's Race Horse Company, which presented five men performing breathtaking stunts on large balls.

The men twirled and repeatedly bounced and jumped on the balls as they flipped through the air in perfect rhythm, drawing gasps from the crowd as they progressed to daring stunts on the wobbly balls.

One of Thailand's graceful dancers from Bunditpatanasilpa Institute performs during the Circus Circus event. — Picture by Erin LiThe stunts were followed by Thailand's graceful dancers from Bunditpatanasilpa Institute that showcased their beautifully fluid shadows dancing behind a screen.

The shadows, some holding carved puppets similar to Malaysia's wayang kulit, pranced and twisted to form shapes such as temples, a mosque, a church and even a row of pre-war shophouses.

The dancers moved from a ferry shadow to shadows of tourist sites such as Kek Lok Si before ending by forming the word "Penang".

The China troupe — The Shanghai Starlight Acrobatic Troupe — was the last to perform, and showcased group acrobatics and plate spinning before a brief 15-minute intermission.

After the intermission, the Race Horse Company started with more daring stunts on a see-saw.

They jumped, flipped and did double and triple flips and somersaults in the air from the see-saw before landing gracefully and starting again.

The Shanghai Starlight Acrobatic Troupe showcasing group acrobatics and plate spinning. — Picture by Erin LimThe China troupe then took to the stage to wow the crowd with more group acrobatics and the Chinese Yo-yo.

Wrecking Crew and its almost surreal play of laser lights and fluorescent lights in their glow suits was the perfect finale for the two-hour Circus Circus as the dancers' glow suits pulsed rhythmically to the music.

Circus Circus was the first opening show of George Town Festival (GTF) 2014 at Dewan Sri Pinang.

The show will be held at 8.30pm today and tomorrow and entrance is by tickets of RM20 each and above.

Find out more about GTF events and purchase tickets to some of its international acts at www.georgetownfestival.com.

Source : http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/george-town-festival-2014-kicks-off-with-dazzling-circus-circus-display